Finding your first job can be a pretty daunting process. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be a fun one, especially if you are applying for something that you like. If you enjoy cooking or just food, in general, there are a lot of restaurants that are hiring. If you prefer fashion then maybe a retail store would be more to your liking. Those are just two of the many examples of ways you can earn money when you’re 15 or 16 years old.
For the parents out there, you should know that studies have shown teens who work 15 hours a week have improved grades. But they also learn about life and get their first taste of independence which is a great plus, indeed!
Table of Contents
Teenage Working Requirements
Generally, finding a job at 16 is not as hard as finding work at 14, but there are still some things to keep in mind. Most important of all, asking your parents — it’s a requirement by the state and we can’t simply forget about the state. But once you sort that out, which shouldn’t take long at all, you can go and find the perfect job.
Generally, since you are still in school you will only be allowed to work 3 hours on a school day and 8 on the weekends. Depending on what you are looking for and the job you find, you might not work on the weekends at all, which means more free time to focus on your studies. But If you prefer to make more money instead, a good idea would be to wait until summer.
Finding a summer job can be a fun and exciting opportunity. Since you are on break it’s considered a non-school day, so you won’t be restricted to 3 hours.
But you also don’t have to work 8 hours as there are jobs, although very few, that offer 6 and even 5-hour positions. This is especially exciting if you manage to score a job at some ocean resort. Then you are basically working and on vacation at the same time. I mean come on, you get free food, free housing, and even free transportation if needed.
That sounds pretty exciting for a first job, right?
That’s all well and good, but how does one find a job in the first place? Well, the simplest way is to ask your parents. Even if they can’t find you a job they can ask around, talk to your neighbors, their friends, even teachers or counselors. Something is bound to come out.
The other way and the one I, personally, prefer is to find a job yourself. You are a lot more independent that way and you can find something that you really enjoy doing. Simply search the Internet for open positions, Sites like Indeed and Glassdoor were made for this specific purpose.
You could also try LinkedIn which is basically Facebook for business people. Or you can just scroll down a bit and see the options we listed in this article.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Starbucks?
So in order to work at Starbucks, you must be at least 16 years old. You can start off as a Barista, which is a pretty dope job to have, especially if you adore the smell of coffee or tea. The hours are flexible and you can request time-off for personal reasons. The best part is you will meet people your own age and possibly expand your network of friends.
Dunkin Donuts Hiring Age
If you want a chill job where you make donuts and coffee, then Dunkin’ Donuts is the place for you. The minimum working age is 16 and you get flexible hours. There are also a lot more positions available for teens than other similar companies like Starbucks, for example.
You can work as, porter, crew members, counter help, cashier, shift leader/supervisor, assistant store manager or even restaurant manager. The possibilities are endless.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Target?
To apply for a job at Target, you must be at least 16 years old. You can start off as a cashier or even as a baker. The hours are flexible, not to mention you will get up to 20% discount on anything you purchase from Target. So in a sense, you also get a bonus that comes along with your first paycheck.
Dairy Queen Hiring Age
Dairy Queen requires you to be at least 16 years old to work there. A printed application is also expected. You can, of course, find that online. The positions you can apply for are team member ones such as Kitchen Staff, Chill Staff, Cake Crew, or Front Counter. But all in all, it’s a decent place to work at with flexible hours.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Walmart?
You can start as a store associate at Walmart at 16 years old. However, not all positions are available for teenagers. For some, you need to be at least 18 years old. Still, the positions you can apply for if you’re 15 or 16 years old are not that bad at all. You can be a store associate and help customers find a product or a cart attendant. Other than that, stocker and fresh food associate are also good options to consider.
American Eagle Hiring Age
If you are a true patriot and want to work for American Eagle, then you will need to be at least 16 years old. However, that is a bit misleading because while the minimum age is 16, they are looking for people with experience. So unless you can impress them, they might think twice before hiring.
Jobs at American Eagle you might get at this age include sales associate, stock associate, or overnight merchandising associate.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Home Depot?
Now this is a tricky one because officially you need to be at least 18 years old to work at Home Depot. However, in most states even 16 year olds can apply for certain positions. You don’t have many options to choose from when it comes to entry-level jobs at Home Depot, but at least the environment won’t be too stressful for you. If interested, you can apply for support/lot associate, customer service/sales associate, or a cashier position.
Sonic Hiring Age
No, not the hedgehog. To work at Sonic you need to be at least 16 years old. You will also need a printed application you have to submit to your local store. But there is only one position available for young people at Sonic and that is carhop/server. Basically, you will have to bring food to people in their cars.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Dollar Tree?
If you want to work at Dollar Tree, you need to be at least 16 year old. You also have to present a printed application which you can find with a quick Google search. There are a few positions available such as Store Associate, Stocker, Warehouse Associates, or Cashier and are great entry level jobs.
Best Buy Hiring Age
If Best Buy is where you want to work at, you need to be at least 16 years old. Keep in mind that they also require you to have at least 3 months of customer service experience. If you have that experience, the positions you can apply for are quite a few. You can choose to be either an Asset Protection Specialist, Car installer, Cashier, Computer Technician, Customer service representative, Musical instruments specialist, Sales associate, or Warehouse worker. So many jobs, so many opportunities.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Hot Topic?
To work at Hot Topic you need to be at least 16 years old. Sadly, the positions for 16 year olds are limited to only one. You can apply only for a Sales Associate position. A printable application is not required. However, they will expect you to know something about fashion, as well as the brands the company promotes and is associated with.
Gamestop Hiring Age
Gamestop is a great place to work at with great company stock to invest in. If you want to start a job at Gamestop you need to be at least 16 years old and, needless to say, love video games. So basically every 16 year old ever. Of course there are not a lot of options when it comes to working at Gamestop. In fact, the only position you can apply for at that age is a cashier.
Wendy’s Hiring Age
You can start as a Crew Member at Wendy’s at 16 years old. The hours are flexible and there are a few other entry-level positions available. Those include Shift Supervisor or Assistant Manager. There are opportunities for you to grow here, just make sure not to mention Burger King or McDonald’s while on the job. Otherwise, I don’t think anyone can save you from the red-haired lady.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Bath And Body Works?
To work at Bath And Body Works you need to be at least 16 years old. You also need to fill out an application and deliver it to your local store. You can only apply to one of the entry-level positions such as sales associate, sales & support associate, or key holder. It’s a decent place to work but just like American Eagle, they are looking for a more experienced individual. That doesn’t mean you cannot get a job there if you try, though.
Burger King Hiring Age
If you want your first job to be at Burger King, you need to be at least 16 years old. The hours are flexible and are based around your school schedule, so you don’t have to worry about missing homework. If you are excited about making burgers, I’m sorry to say that there is no way. Seeing as you are still a minor, you are not allowed to use the cooking equipment. Instead the positions you can apply for are Cashier, Drive-Thru or Clean Up Staff.
Walgreens Hiring Age
If you want to try your skills at Walgreens, you will need to be at least 16 years old. The positions available are also quite a few. There is Beauty Consultant, Photo Specialist, Pharmacy Technician, and Customer Service Associate. However, while the minimum working age is 16 years old, most locations still require experience. So chances are you will have a hard time getting in.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Subway?
Now while the minimum age for working at Subway is 16 years old, in some states you can get hired at 15, as long as you have a work permit. However, 15 year olds can only apply for a barista position, while 16 year olds can be anything from cashier to shift supervisor. The hours are also flexible and you get a discount on all in-store purchases which is awesome!
Chick-fil-A Hiring Age
You can actually start working for Chick-Fil-A at 14 years old but keep in mind that the positions are limited. If you’re 15 year olds though, you might get more opportunities. The available team member positions include Catering Delivery Driver, Kitchen Staff or Dishwasher. But once you go up by a year, your job opportunities increase.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Taco Bell?
To work at Taco Bell, you must be at least 14 years old. Note that the positions are a bit limited and you will need a permit. The jobs you can apply for are mostly team member positions, but at least the hours are flexible. Go up by a year and you can apply to shift leader positions as well.
Baskin Robbins Hiring Age
The minimum age for working at Baskin Robbins is 14 years old. So if you want to make ice cream you can start at a young age. The hours are flexible and the job is actually kinda chill…see what I did there? Best part is that the positions are actually pretty good as well – you can be either a crew member, shift leader, or cake decorator.
McDonald’s Hiring Age
If you want to work at McDonald’s you only need to be 14 years old. The hours are flexible and you can become a Kitchen Crew, Counter Crew, or Maintenance Crew. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages, like with most things in life. I gotta say, I really like McDonald’s both for the food and working culture.
There are a lot of jobs for 14 and 15-year-olds and they are not just limited to these five. You can take a look around and find other places that hire at 14 years old.
